I'll be continue blogging bout National Service after the 5th day :)
Some of the entries are actually very tedious so I'll just enlarge the fonts of the more interesting parts :D
15th January 2013, Tuesday, 6th Day.
We had rehearsal for National Service Opening Ceremony in the morning. We were required to stand throughout the whole ceremony oh god I was practically sleep standing. So fucking sleepy. Went to class later on and we've entered Module 2. So we have a new teacher and new group. I was arranged into a group called Maggi which consists of 6 Malays, 2 Indians, 1 Sabahan and that makes me the only Chinese.
At night non-muslim did nothing for 2 hours while Muslims having class in surau. So freaking boring all I did was sleep and playing wrestling with friends.
This is one of my group members, Erol. He is a very flirtatious guy he made so many girls in camp fall for him! To be honest I find him very adorable and almost thought that he likes me :/
16th January 2013, Wednesday, 7th Day.
Today was so depressing. We had the long and painful rehearsal again. Early morning at 6am I helped YiWan, my assistant company leader to tie the flags. This is actually my first time tying a flag to the pole after seeing people doing this for over a decade as a school student. After class we had a man came and gave us talk about some local university. I don't know what the hell he was talking about because I was sleeping throughout the talk.
During tea time WeiYing and I sat at the lakeside and talked. Cikgu Noorizan pulled a chair over and joined us. He is a nice man but kind of weird....hmm.
At night we went to Dharma class. There were 3 speakers. This class and the talk they gave us changed my life. I was so stunned at how influential today's talk can be. Things they said were so shocking that I couldn't get it out of my mind.
They let us watch a video about how our world transformed since 20 years ago. Besides the huge technology impact, the crime rates increased tremendously..in a way we didn't realise. Teacher made us think : What is there in the world we have to face in 20 years time?
I did not dare to think bout it. The thought of it was so scary.
Next we've watched another video about a Japanese that murdered a female Caucasian and ate her or something like that. When he was prosecuted, he was wearing a black hoodie that covered his eyes. Media took the picture of him looking emotionless. The picture went viral in Japan because he looks like that kind of character in most Japanese anime. The girls were crazy over him. While he, noticed his sudden fame and started writing a book in his days as a prisoner. He became a celebrity. Girls went crazy over him and started writing letters to confess their love for him.
The thing is, what has the world become? A terrifying cannibal has turned into a celebrity. What has gotten us, the younger generation?! The thought of everything - everything around the world seemed fine to me, with more and more creative & wonderful food, Kpop stars rising, crime rates raised a little...thats all to me. But I did not realise how scary these things could be. The change from the past terrifies me badly.
On my way back to dorm, I couldn't stop thinking bout it. I was very nervous, worried and terrified. I looked up to my only comfort, to the skies..and I see no stars.
No stars, no hope.
That night was a very depressing night.
17th January 2013, Thursday, 8th Day.
After rehearsal and class, teachers gathered us together and announced about a event in Bukit Jalil Stadium. It is a huge event and we get to meet campers from other National Service camps ! I really want to go, sounds fun. But each company can only pick fixed amount of people go and all races have to be equal.
I didn't get chosen though :(
Today's Dharma class teacher let us watch a lot of videos about family and mostly about filial piety. Everyone was so close to tearing watching that ! Especially this is my 8th day away from home. I miss my family. But I am all fine here, meeting a lot of people and having fun :)
Back to dorm I was asked to see my company teacher. I was so furious when I've found out my dorm leader reported me to teacher because I kept a phone. And yes I had to pass it to teacher. :(
URGH.
18th January 2013, Friday, 9th Day.
We had a talk today and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOO BORING , slept throughout the talk, again. Called mommy during tea time. Reported all the little things to her. Things I wouldn't do if I am home. :)
At night SeaYean and I spent our night sitting at my bedside eating and talked till late night.
I really like this friend of mine. :)
19th January 2013, Saturday, 10th Day.
We had rehearsal again. I was sleep standing. I heard some noise and I saw a few people leaving their seats to go outside the hall. So I kepo and asked everyone what is happening and they said something about dance performance for opening ceremony. To escape the rehearsal, my friends and I went out to join.
Turned out it wasn't a dance performance thing but Dikir Barat. Dikir Barat is a singing performance that involves lots of hand movements. It is part of the Malay culture.
There were so many people who wants to join ! About 50 people. So we all went into a class and teacher started electing people to be lead singers and play instruments. Of all people, my 5 other friends and I were the only Chinese. The others are all Malay. Teacher composed songs with a few Malays and the others just rot there don't know what to do. I was so so bored of that I don't even know what Dikir Barat is ! But I acted like I was very interested in it because..I don't want them to isolate us Chinese. While my friends slept throughout the session. WeiYing came in to join after ! :)
After tea we were supposed to go back to practice but my friends didn't want to join anymore. I honestly don't feel like joining anymore. The songs are so boring and it is in Malay -.- But if we quit there will be no Chinese !:( I know I couldn't persuade the others but I made WeiYing to stay with me and we did ! We are the only 2 non-malays in the team now. And from 50 ppl, we left only less than 20 people in the team.
WeiYing and I were so left out because we couldn't speak Malay like how the Malays did. We don't know what the hell is Dikir Barat either. All we did was following other people, we do what they do.
This performance is for our opening ceremony which is 2 days later. Only 2 days of practice !!
We started discussing bout our attire. Our lead singers Adib and Asri kinda came up with the idea that we female non-muslims wear veils(tudung) during performance to synchronize the performance. I politely and awkwardly rejected the idea but both of them keeps pushing the idea ! The other team members agreed too. I felt that the whole world is against WeiYing and I ohmygod I was so furious.
Adib
:''Eh pakailah tudung, baru nampak sama..''
Me :
'' Tak mau la, saya bukan Muslim pun...''
Adib :
''Bukan muslim pun boleh pakai la.''
Me
:'' *angry* tak boleh! Ini akan bertentang dengan agama saya!''
Then he finally shut the hell up hahahaha. I lied, I don't even care bout religions cos I have none. But I don't like the idea of wearing veils to cover up the fact that I am not a Muslim.
With me and WeiYing insisting that we will perform with free hair, they finally dropped the subject.
At night I called mommy, my godmother and maid. Almost cried talking to them :(
So looking forward to tomorrow! Can't wait to meet my family :))
20th January 2013, Sunday, 11th Day.
Today we get to wake up at 6am !! So happy !
Early morning we had Dikir Barat practice. I couldn't concentrate as I kept looking outside to search for my family. I've never felt so eager to meet my family before!
Finally, I saw a familiar figure wandering around the hall, and yes that was my dad. I don't know is this psychological effects or what but I think he looks a lot older :( I happily say bye to my DB team mates and ran towards my family like a kid. In my class heels !!
Mom brought noodles and soup for me. So delicious !! They had to go back early because dad has golf in the afternoon. I was actually very sad that he can't even go to golf late to spend more time with me. I almost teared bidding them goodbye.
I have nothing to do so I went back to practice. All Buddhists were off to Nalanda Buddhist Centre awhile later. Today's theme is friendship. We have a special speaker to give us a talk about it and we played some friendship games ! It was so exciting and fun.
Went back to camp and practice with Choir team again. The DB team is pretty good now ! Tomorrow is the full rehearsal for opening ceremony :) quite excited for it.
Dinner I had mom's delicious chicken and soup. Called her again at night to tell her about my day.
Goodnights !
21st January 2013, Monday, 12th Day.
Today we had full rehearsal ! DB practice was very fun :) Our performance is now close to perfect :)
At night we had some mistakes and Cikgu Shah, our DB teacher was furious. We did it beautifully at last and I guess we are ready to perform tomorrow !:)
After practice it was already 10.45pm. Cikgu Shah came up to me and WeiYing and said
:''Kau dua akan jadi tumpuan kerana kamu free hair tau. So buat baik-baik. Tapi tadi aku tengok sudah ok, gerakan semua baik.''
Yay compliments from teacher ! Happy !:)
Nervous for tomorrow hehe :)